THE halls of The Queen’s School took on a special significance last week as generations of past students returned to the institution, not simply to revisit cherished memories, but to help shape the aspirations of the young women now following in their footsteps.

Under the theme ‘The Strength of Our Roots: The Making of a Queen’, the school’s Alumnae Week activities have placed legacy, sisterhood, and intergenerational engagement at the centre of the celebrations, reminding current students that the foundation laid by those who came before them carries a responsibility to nurture those who will follow.

The activities form part of Jamaica’s wider observance of National Alumnae Week, which culminated in National Alumnae Day last Wednesday, an initiative of the Jamaica Association of High Schools.

For The Queen’s School Alumnae Association (TQSAA), the annual observance is an opportunity to reconnect with the institution that helped shape its members while finding meaningful ways to contribute to its continued development.

First Vice-President Aneeke Brown said the association was particularly excited about this year’s programme, which has seen past students return to engage with the current student body through devotions, classroom presentations, and mentorship.

“The Queen’s School Alumnae Association is very excited about Alumnae Week 2026. It has been a staple on the calendar for us since it was introduced some years ago, and this year was no exception,” Brown said.

She pointed out that while the national theme focuses on the strength of one’s roots, TQSAA added “The Making of a Queen” to emphasise the importance of understanding the institution’s history while continuing to grow into the values it represents.

“We want to encourage our younger sisters, our future Queens. We want them to embody what makes a Queen, and our history is important. That’s where the strength of our roots comes in,” Brown explained.

“They need to understand what it means to be a Queen and to honour the legacy set before them while embracing the unfinished versions of themselves,” added Brown.

(From left:) Aneeke Brown (Class of 2002), Natalie Farquharson (Class of 2004), Shereita Grizzle (Class of 2008) and Gabrielle Hamilton (class of 2010) got involved in the activities for National Alumnae Week on the grounds of The Queen’s School on Tuesday, October 13.

The celebrations began on Saturday, October 10 with a gala hosted by the Class of 1976 to mark 50 years since its members graduated from the institution.

Held at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in St Andrew, the reunion brought together former classmates, teachers, school representatives, and supporters to celebrate five decades of friendship and connection.

The milestone gathering was followed by a service at St Andrew Parish Church on Sunday, October 11, where alumnae joined in worship and thanksgiving ahead of the week’s activities.

Monday brought the highly anticipated Alumnae Invasion as past students returned to the school for an alumnae-led devotion and classroom takeover.

The morning’s proceedings celebrated the contribution of generations of Queens while encouraging the present student body to remain grounded in its values and confident in its potential. The devotion also included the badging of the school’s student leaders, with Ashley Brown pinned as head girl for the 2026-2027 academic year and Marcella Lewis and Ashley Dawkins badged as deputy head girls.

Following a tour of the institution, alumnae visited classrooms to share experiences and engage students in conversations about identity, discipline, career development, purpose, resilience, and sisterhood.

For Brown, the growing involvement of past students, particularly the younger generation, has been particularly heart-warming.

“For years, I was one of the youngest, if not the youngest, member of the alumnae association, and so it’s very heart-warming to see my younger sisters who graduated after me come in and become more involved,” she said.

Members of The Queen’s School Class of ‘76 hand over a symbolic cheque of $1 million to Principal Jennifer Williams (right) during devotions on Monday, October 12. The money is slated to go towards refurbishing one of the science labs at the institution.

Brown credited the association’s executive team and public relations team, led by Denise Johnston, for their efforts to strengthen engagement and make it easier for former students to reconnect with the school.

She said the response from the current students has also been encouraging, and many have expressed appreciation for the time and attention given to them by women who once occupied the same classrooms.

“Based on feedback from our current crop of Queens, they really appreciate the time spent with them. They are in awe that there are students who spent their time here and are proud of that fact,” Brown said.

She added that some students had been inspired by the encounters and were becoming more willing to embrace the school’s ethos of “once a Queen, always a Queen”.

The week’s emphasis on nurturing future generations has also been matched by tangible support for the institution.

During Monday’s devotion, the Class of 1976 donated $1 million towards the planned refurbishing of one of the school’s science laboratory. The contribution was presented to Principal Jennifer Williams by Michele Moncrieffe, a member of the anniversary class and assistant secretary of the TQSAA, alongside fellow alumnae.

The donation underscored the association’s commitment to ensuring that its connection to the school extends beyond celebrations and fond recollections.

For Brown, however, giving back need not always involve a financial contribution. She encouraged alumnae to consider the many other ways they can support the institution, whether by attending school events, sharing their professional experiences, speaking with students, or offering mentorship.

“One of our hashtags for the school is ‘#FloreatStraight’, which really means to flourish always, and that’s what we want for our ladies,” added Brown.